Leaves of grass (1872) | ||
3
7
The workmanship of souls is by the inaudible words of the earth;The great masters know the earth's words, and use them more than the audible words.
8
Amelioration is one of the earth's words;The earth neither lags nor hastens;
It has all attributes, growths, effects, latent in itself from the jump;
It is not half beautiful only—defects and excrescences show just as much as perfections show.
9
The earth does not withhold, it is generous enough;The truths of the earth continually wait, they are not so conceal'd either;
They are calm, subtle, untransmissible by print;
They are imbued through all things, conveying themselves willingly,
Conveying a sentiment and invitation of the earth—I utter and utter,
I speak not, yet if you hear me not, of what avail am I to you?
To bear—to better—lacking these, of what avail am I?
Leaves of grass (1872) | ||